Method for producing bristle products, and bristle product production device

Abstract

A method for producing bristle products ( 1 ), in particular brushes, having a bristle carrier ( 2 ) and a bristle set ( 3 ) of bristle filaments ( 4 ), wherein a bristle carrier ( 2 ) and fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of bristle filaments ( 4 ) are connected to one another by a thermal joining process, and the bristle carrier ( 2 ), in particular its external contour, is deformed from an initial shape to a target shape by a temperature variation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ). A bristle product production device ( 100 ) to carry out the method is also provided.

1 . A method for producing bristle products ( 1 ) having a bristle carrier ( 2 ) and a bristle set ( 3 ) of bristle filaments ( 4 ), the method comprising:
 connecting fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of bristle filaments ( 4 ) to the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by a thermal joining process; and   deforming an external contour of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) from an initial shape to a target shape by a temperature variation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising generating a force for deforming the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by the temperature variation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a) heating the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and the fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ), or b) fusing the fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ), for the connecting of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ) to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a) the deforming of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by the temperature variation takes place after the connecting of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) to the bristle filaments ( 4 ), or b) the deforming of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) includes concavely deforming the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by the temperature variation. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal joining process comprises a cooling step in which at least one of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) or the bristle carrier ( 2 ) is cooled. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising reducing or dissipating a pre-load in the bristle carrier ( 2 ), which is created during production, by the temperature variation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) in the thermal joining process while deforming the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bristle carrier ( 2 ) is at least peripherally heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising reducing or dissipating a pre-load in the bristle carrier ( 2 ), which is caused by at least one of additives or an admixture in the bristle carrier ( 2 ), by the temperature variation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) in the thermal joining process while deforming the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bristle carrier ( 2 ) comprises at least two plastic-material components which form different portions of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) such that the bristle carrier ( 2 ) is deformed differently by the temperature variation in the different portions. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deformation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) is at least in portions at least one of restricted or delayed by a detent ( 7 ) by which the bristle filaments ( 4 ) are held when connecting to the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deformation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) is predefined by an initial geometry of the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a) the bristle carrier ( 2 ) has at least one defined deformation region which has a lower resistance to deformation in comparison to an adjacent region of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and influences the deformation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ), or b) the bristle carrier ( 2 ) has at least one reinforcement region in which the bristle carrier ( 2 ) at least one of has a greater material thickness or is provided with a reinforcement, and the reinforcement region has a greater resistance to deformation than a neighboring region of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and influences the deformation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising during the deforming, heating a region of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) locally to a higher or to a lower temperature than in an adjacent region. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising generating a temperature gradient between different portions of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) for the deforming of the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deforming includes a targeted deformation of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by at least one of a) using at least one of a predefined cooling time or cooling rate, b) locally cooling the bristle carrier ( 2 ), or c) cooling different regions of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) using at least one of different temperatures, cooling rates, or cooling times. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising holding the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by a holder ( 10 ) which contacts the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by way of a sub-region of an external face ( 11 ) thereof, which is adjacent to a bristle set side ( 6 ). 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising holding the bristle carrier ( 2 ) by a holder ( 10 ) that has a holding contour ( 12 ) for holding at least one said bristle carrier ( 2 ), which is penetrated by at least one clearance ( 13 ) such that the holder ( 10 ) contacts the bristle carrier ( 2 ) only by way of a sub-region of an external face ( 11 ) thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ) to one another includes pressing the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ) against one another with a defined joining force ( 33 ). 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the joining force ( 33 ) is determined by at least one of a force measuring device ( 27 ), a load cell ( 28 ), a compression spring, or a current consumption of an actuating drive ( 29 ) by which the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and the bristle filaments ( 4 ) are pressed against one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising using a bristle product production device ( 100 ) to carry out the method. 
     
     
         21 . A bristle product production device ( 100 ), comprising:
 a heating device ( 14 ) which is specified to heat fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of bristle filaments ( 4 ) of a bristle set ( 3 ) and a bristle carrier ( 2 ) to which the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ) are to be connected; and   the heating device ( 14 ) is adapted to fuse the fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) and not the bristle carrier ( 2 ).   
     
     
         22 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the heating device ( 13 ) comprises first and second heating surfaces ( 15 ,  16 ), the first heating surface ( 15 ) is provided for heating the fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ) of a bristle product ( 1 ) to be produced, and the second heating surface ( 16 ) is provided for heating the bristle carrier ( 2 ) of the bristle product ( 1 ) to be produced. 
     
     
         23 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the first and second heating surfaces ( 15 ,  16 ) face away from one another. 
     
     
         24 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a cooling device ( 17 ) for actively cooling the bristle carrier ( 2 ). 
     
     
         25 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a filament holder ( 8 ) for holding the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ), and a profiled counter-holder ( 18 ) for profiling the bristle set ( 3 ) of a bristle product ( 1 ) to be produced. 
     
     
         26 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a holder ( 10 ) which is adapted to hold at least one said bristle carrier ( 2 ) by way of a sub-region of an external face ( 11 ) thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the holder ( 10 ) has a holding contour ( 12 ) for holding at least one said bristle carrier ( 2 ), and the holding contour ( 12 ) is at least one of formed on a holding space ( 19 ) of the holder ( 10 ) or is penetrated by at least one clearance ( 13 ). 
     
     
         28 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as  claimed in 26 , wherein at least one of a) the holder ( 10 ) has at least one holding finger ( 20 ) which forms at least part of a holding contour ( 19 ), or b) the holder ( 10 ) has a clearance ( 13 ) with at least one recess ( 21 ) that faces a holding space ( 19 ) for at least one of the bristle carrier ( 2 ) or a rear side ( 9 ) of a bristle carrier ( 2 ) situated in a holding position on the holder ( 10 ). 
     
     
         29 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the holder ( 10 ) comprises a gripper and has at least two mutually assigned gripper jaws ( 22 ,  23 ) on which is formed at least part of the holding contour ( 12 ). 
     
     
         30 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising an actuating drive ( 29 ) which is specified to press with a defined joining force ( 33 ) the bristle carrier ( 2 ) against the fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) to connect the bristle carrier ( 2 ) to the bristle filaments ( 4 ). 
     
     
         31 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising a force measuring device ( 27 ) for determining a joining force ( 33 ) with which the bristle carrier ( 2 ) and fastening-proximal ends ( 5 ) of the bristle filaments ( 4 ) of the bristle set ( 3 ) are pressed against one another. 
     
     
         32 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the force measuring device ( 27 ) is disposed between the actuating drive ( 29 ) and the holder ( 10 ). 
     
     
         33 . The bristle product production device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the actuating drive ( 29 ) comprises a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric actuating drive, and the bristle product production device ( 100 ) further comprises a control unit ( 30 ) for controlling the actuating drive ( 29 ) as a function of a measured joining force ( 33 ).